Ravichandran Ashwin has heaped fresh praise on Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, calling him “unflappable” and pointing to the calm, tactical control he brings during tense chases. The former India spinner’s remarks came after another high-stakes run chase where Iyer once again looked in command of the situation.
In a post on X, Ashwin highlighted Iyer’s knack for reading the match, steering his batting partner through pressure, and choosing shots with precision when a bowler is at his most vulnerable. He praised Iyer’s ability to stay composed even when the game tightens, describing his overall approach as “Top Class.”
“At the moment, Shreyas Iyer looks unflappable. His ability to forecast a chase, guide his partner, staying unruffled amidst pressure and shot selection against a bowler he fancies at the right moment are attributes that not many cricketers can boast of at this point in time,” Ashwin wrote.
Ashwin added that while modern cricket is packed with batters who can spark excitement with big-hitting displays, few combine temperament, situational awareness, and measured aggression in the way Iyer does. “We have a plethora of batters who can excite with their shot-making ability but not many like Shreyas. Top Class,” he said.
Punjab Kings’ chase vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Punjab Kings pulled off a record-setting chase, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets at Mullanpur.
- SRH set a demanding target of 220, finishing on 219/6 after being sent in to bat.
- The innings was driven by an explosive opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, who combined to set the tone early.
- In the powerplay, Abhishek struck 74 off 28 balls, smashing eight sixes and five fours, while Head made 38 off 23.
- As their stand grew to 120, SRH raced to 105/0 inside the first six overs.
- Abhishek reached his half-century in just 18 deliveries, powering one of the most aggressive powerplays in IPL history.
- SRH then lost both openers in quick succession to Shashank Singh, but they kept the momentum going through the middle overs.
- At the halfway stage, SRH moved to 132/2 and then reached 176/3 after 15 overs.
- In the death overs, regular wickets—including the dismissals of Ishan Kishan for 27 and Heinrich Klaasen for 39—kept SRH from crossing the 230-mark they briefly looked set to challenge.
- For PBKS, Shashank Singh (2/20) and Arshdeep Singh (2/50) were the standout wicket-takers, while Xavier Bartlett contributed with another dismissal.
- In reply, PBKS launched a fearless pursuit led by their top order’s attacking intent.
- Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh gave PBKS a fast start, striking the ball hard from the outset.
- Arya scored 57 off 20 balls, while Prabhsimran hit a quick 51 off 25, as PBKS reached 93/0 in the powerplay and crossed 100 in 6.3 overs.
- SRH briefly tightened the contest with quick strikes from Shivang Kumar, dismissing both openers and later removing Cooper Connolly.
- Despite the setbacks, Shreyas Iyer took control of the chase with a composed, match-defining innings.
- Iyer finished unbeaten on 69 from 33 balls, rebuilding with Nehal Wadhera after early wickets before accelerating again with authority.
- His knock included five fours and five sixes, ensuring PBKS stayed ahead throughout the second half of the chase.
- By the end, PBKS reached 223/4 in 18.5 overs, with Iyer closing the match alongside Shashank Singh.
- For SRH, Shivang Kumar was the most effective bowler with figures of 3/33, but the bowling unit struggled to contain PBKS—especially during the powerplay and late overs.
With the win, Punjab Kings recorded their 10th successful chase of 200-plus targets in IPL history, reinforcing their growing reputation as one of the tournament’s most dangerous sides when chasing big totals.
